Show HN: I built an app that makes me exercise to scroll on social media
Hi HN! After catching myself doomscrolling way too often, I got obsessed with this problem. Everyone talks about it, but real fixes are scarce. So I quit my job to tackle it.
My first attempt was an app that intentionally made social media apps more annoying (https://speedbumpapp.com). It reminded me when I'd been scrolling for too long. But I still had to resist the urge to uninstall it - just like how my brain ignored Apple's Screen Time warnings.
Back at the drawing board, I noticed a pattern: people who don't doomscroll are just too busy for that. When my calendar is filled with friends or sports, I can't waste time on the couch.
This led me to Pushscroll, which helps you replace doomscrolling with exercise. 1 pushup = 1 minute of scrolling allowed. We also detect squats and plank with computer vision (on-device).
It won't fix everything - being bored is an important skill to master. But embracing boredom is the last step in this journey. Pushscroll is as easy to open as social media, and seeing progress is surprisingly motivating. We have a bunch of features planned - it's such a fun idea.
I'd love your feedback and hope it helps you swap some scrolls with reps :)
- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pushscroll-screen-time-gym/id6...
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pushscroll...